I count seven references to race in a two paragraph post.

First, like I've said before, you need to quit being so defensive as if everything is an attack on you.

Second, the whole issue about Kaepernick revolves around race. You know it does but you're trying to make it seem like I'm instigating the whole thing. I simply pointed out that, considering his personal situation and history, he doesn't have much justification for thinking the way he apparently does.

This popped up on Facebook. It says that he converted to Islam during the summer, probably from the influence of his gf. May add an interesting angle to the Colin Kaepernik controversy if true. I know Breitbart isn't always accurate, but it provides links to their Instagram accounts for people to see for themselves.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/201...ational-anthem/

Anthony Weiner does it again.
http://nypost.com/2016/08/28/anthony-weiner-sexted-busty-brunette-while-his-son-was-in-bed-with-him/

How am I not living proof?

The sentiment from certain posters is " born out of wedlock" equates to not " ideal " situation. Being generally still have it failures as I stated.

@ Gets

I know I'm off the topic you and others discussing but I'm questioning these same individuals bringing that side topic into the mix.

What I mean is generalities are still useful in the big picture. Pointing out that exceptions don't change the big picture. There's LOTS of exceptions to many things. That's all I was trying to say.

doesn't kap have the right to protest, if he really has a cause.

we all know its not going to change anything, but,let him have his protest.

I don't think anyone is taking that right away from him, but he has provoked many to use their right to complain about what he did. America, the country where people can agree to disagree without being disagreeable.

Rex Ryan. Now there's the intellectual voice of reason. Rex has something to say about players sitting during national anthems...as soon as he finishes his hot dog.

This guy is Portnoy, of Portnoy's Complaint come to life.

Keep in mind that the provisions of the US Constitution apply only to government.

Individual* (singular) who brought it up. Once it's brought up, it's fair game. Stats are just stats.They tell the truth in a snapshot , but not the full picture. Beneath the statistics are individuals who have the free will to make decisions.

Lot of children from what some would consider "ideal" family structures are strung out on heroin and will OD someday.

The man who is currently President was abandoned by his biological father.

Personally, I didn't read anybody(else) write anything in the discussion of Black children births that was offensive. Just citing of stats.
Now, I'm a strong believer in the power of the nuclear family. I'm just old enough to remember when things shifted and I witnessed firsthand how the community changed since nuclear families stopped being the norm. As you know, my buddies growing up were from SC,NC, Alabama ...first generation Northerners..I used to hear their parents talk about how people moved up North and lost their GD minds, abandoning traditional values and such. Every single thing their folks predicted would happen.....has indeed happened.

Agree about individuals being beneath those stats. I would never tell an actual individual they're doomed to failure based on a statistical factor. That would be nonsense.

Dealing with individuals and dealing with stats are very different though. I just argue that statistics and accurate generalizations are helpful and shouldn't be ignored. It's about zooming way out and looking at the larger trends. There's limitations as statistics can't tell the whole story and there's always multiple factors at play when it comes to social sciences.

The key question should be "all other things being equal, what situation is better?"

If I said "exercise and healthy diet is a good way to prevent many diseases and having a longer life" and someone responded with " oh yeah well my grandmother smoked and never exercised in her life and lived to be 100!"

Well does that change everything ? No, not really.

So kap can't be mad about the police shooting unarmed black men because u say so

There ain't enough blacks in Utah for u to be so concerned with black people

Basically you're argument is that kap shouldn't be allowed his first amendment right because its based on cops shooting black men

While on the topic of "The Star Spangled Banner," it turns out that there's a verse in the original version of the song that there was a third stanza that wishes for the killing of the slaves who fought for the British because their blood would wash away their "foul footstep's pollution."

"And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

During the War of 1812, the British offered freedom to slaves if they would fight for their side. Many took up the offer. Francis Scott Key went to a British ship to lead a prisoner exchange, but because he saw too much they held him prisoner while bombarding Baltimore. Many of those who Key saw were ex-slaves who went to the other side.

During the presidency of Woodrow Wilson in 1916 he pushed for it to be the national anthem. The offending verse was removed by a committee. President Herbert Hoover made the cleaned-up version gave it official approval about fifteen years later. Stories about the original version started sprouting in 2014, then more in July 2016.

It should be pointed out that the song had verses re-written to support abolitionism too, so people were always changing it until the current version from 1931.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/history/...ational-anthem/

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-stand-star-spangled-banner-article-1.2770075

https://theintercept.com/2016/08/28/coli...ion-of-slavery/

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/29/arts/m...years.html?_r=0

Attorneys for Fox News Channel Monday sought to have a suit filed by a former correspondent, Andrea Tantaros, against the 21st Century Fox-owned cable news outlet moved to arbitration, saying her charges of being harassed at the network were “unverified” and that she had violated the terms of her employment contract with the network. Tantaros, a former host of “The Five” and “Outnumbered, alleged in a filing in the Supreme Court of the State of New York last week that she was the victim of retaliation by senior executives at the network after she complained about inappropriate remarks made to her by Roger Ailes, the former chairman and chief executive of the network.

Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros -- who slammed the network and its former chief Roger Ailes last week with a $30 million sexual harassment lawsuit -- was branded an opportunistic liar by the network in a scathing court filing.


http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/fox-...ticle-1.2770604

SoCal,

I hear you. Speaking of stats. Growing up I always heard about the alarming divorce rates. At one point, a stat always used in articles was that "one in 2 marriages end in divorce".I never verified that stat, but even it wasn't accurate, the divorce rate the past two generations definitely had a huge impact on what the marriage rates are today. People really don't believe in marriage as much as they used to.


F1,

Thanks. GREAT pull.I guess the thinking behind the last stanza was that the Africans were supposed to just accept their fates. ..and that they were wrong for wanting freedom. George Carlin had a great comedy line about this glaring contradiction.

Also I didn't know that CK had recently converted to Islam. I hope he's equally consistent in pointing out the centuries long abuse and discrimination that African people face in countries where the Islamic flag flies.

For example? What do you know about Colin Kaepernick's history?

He may not have. So far it's just rumor on a few web sites. No national press has covered it, and no mention of it by Kaepernick.

http://www.snopes.com/colin-kaepernick-converts-to-islam/

If you read my other posts you would know I never said I'm struggling with medical bills. My posts say I have a problem(not financially) with paying high premiums because of Obamacare when me and my family rarely go to the doctor (hardly any medical bills) Also I stated I handed out ONE 20 dollar bill to make a point, not that I go handing out 20 dollar bills like candy. But hey, whatever liberals want to do to distort the facts and impress upon the nation their convoluted views.

And it's also disrespectful that Kap doesn't honor the fallen and brave Black American soldiers that gave their life in World War 2. It was not right to be segregated in the military, but facing discrimination the Black Soldiers fought so hard and bravely that after the war Harry Truman ordered the Armed Forces desegregated because of their valor and bravery to this country. What Kap did was a slap in the face to all those brave soldiers, who had to deal with a lot of shit in this country, who put their life on the line and fought honorably for the freedom we enjoy today. No different from my great great uncle John Guy Yates who was killed by a Japanese sniper in the Phillipinnes in 44. All those guys, black, white, native american, whatever should be honored by us standing on our feet at attention for 3 minutes out of our 168 hour week.Even more appalling, a black Iraq veteran who lost his legs in Iraq and couldn't stand for the anthem, lifted himself up by the handles of his wheel chair and held position during the Anthem, Kap is a disgrace. Didn't make a stand during the Super Bowl, but does so when he is 2nd string at a preseason game. Pathetic.

Plus, he'd have no reason to hide it now. He's already made a political stance far more daring than announcing he's a Muslim, considering there already are Muslims in the NFL, and there have been several in the league's history.

There are still a few black WW2 veterans that are alive. Hopefully we can hear from some of them about what they think of Kaepernick. We've sure heard enough people speak for them, without their input.

Telling that this is your only response to the truth. I stand at our National Anthem for those brave soldiers who fought and dies for our country in WW2 and thank them every day I am not speaking German. No matter what their opinion of Kap is I will continue to do so for the rest of my days no matter what this country goes through.

Well, their opinion would matter to me. I'd like to hear from black WW2 vets, to see if they feel the same way about Kaepernick as you do. You brought them up.

Really? My grandma is 80 and ten years younger than most black ww2 vets. You think most even deal with social media and twitter you're a fool. My grandma is 80 years old and has only heard of facebook. Those old school people grew up working hard, living in a world without plumbing or electronics and are our greatest generation of Americans. To think they would sound off on Twitter is ridiculous. They are so much more humble and hardworking to even have mind to sound off on something so trivial and immature.

A lot of people in their 90s are capable of expressing opinions, and have good memories. I'm glad you brought up black WW2 veterans. It would be nice to hear from the few of them still around regarding this issue, and other things.

The Snopes piece only deals with some doctored photos. If you read the entire article it actually comes to no conclusion about whether or not he converted.

I also wrote that he MAY have converted according to some claims, but nothing has been verified. The rumor started at this sports gossip blog: http://terezowens.com/colin-kaepernick-converting-to-muslim-for-girlfriend/

Then he made an Instagram post about wishing well to those who are fasting on Ramadan and that his Arab Muslim gf has been influencing him to convert to Islam: http://www.sportsgrid.com/real-sports/nf...lfriend-report/

http://mtonews.com/mto-exclusive-nfl-star-colin-kaeperneck-coverts-islam-can-marry-arab-girlfriend/

https://www.instagram.com/nessnitty/

There was also a precedent by the Denver Nuggets player formerly known as Chris Jackson (who converted to Islam): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000...national-anthem

Why would he hide it? He just took a stance far more bold than stating he's Muslim. There are Muslims in the NFL now. There have been for a long time.